In a sun-drenched World Cup Group I clash played in front of 80,545 spectators with Manhattan’s iconic skyline glinting in the distance, two-time World Cup champions France kicked off their quest for a third global title with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winners Senegal on Tuesday.
The match carried echoes of 22 years ago, when a heavily-favored French side suffered a humiliating opening-round defeat to Senegal at the 2002 World Cup that sent them crashing out in the group stage without a single goal. This time, Senegal looked set to repeat history after dominating the opening 45 minutes, but a half-time tactical adjustment from France head coach Didier Deschamps unlocked the game, turning the tide in the European side’s favor.
Senegal, led by veteran star Sadio Mane and fielding four starting players born in France, entered the clash fresh off a controversial end to their Africa Cup of Nations title defense. Pape Thiaw’s side lifted the AFCON trophy in extra time earlier this year, only to be stripped of the title after a player walk-off protest mid-match; an appeal against the decision remains pending, and the side showed little rust in their first competitive match since the final.
The African side dominated the first half, coming inches from taking the lead just 25 minutes in. Nicolas Jackson broke clear on a counter-attack, fired a shot that crashed off the post, and the deflection bounced off French goalkeeper Mike Maignan before rolling narrowly wide of the goal. Ismaila Sarr then wasted a golden chance to open the scoring in first-half stoppage time, sending a clear effort over the crossbar – misses that would come back to haunt Senegal later.
Deschamps’ critical half-time switch saw Michael Olise shift infield from the right wing, swapping positions with Ousmane Dembele, and the tactical change immediately transformed France’s performance. The reigning champions burst into life after the break, with Olise testing Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy before setting up Kylian Mbappe for a close-range attempt that was turned away. A potential penalty on the hour mark, when Mbappe went down under a challenge from Mane, was waved away by referee Alireza Faghani after a VAR review, but France would not be denied.
In the 66th minute, Olise slid a pinpoint pass across the penalty area, and Mbappe darted into space to convert the opening goal, breaking the deadlock in a tightly-contested contest. Les Bleus doubled their lead late when Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, brought on as a second-half substitute, ran onto a through ball from Adrien Rabiot to slot home France’s second. Senegal struck back in stoppage time, with PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye pulling a goal back for the African side in the 95th minute, but Mbappe had the final say. Just a minute later, the 27-year-old Real Madrid striker hammered a long-range effort into the back of the net to seal the three points, capping a historic night for the French captain.
Mbappe’s double saw him rewrite multiple record books: he moved past Pele (12 goals), Lionel Messi (13) and French legend Just Fontaine (13) to take his career World Cup tally to 14, level with Germany’s Gerd Muller. Only all-time leader Miroslav Klose (16) and Brazil’s Ronaldo (15) sit above Mbappe in the global scoring charts. The brace also pushed the 27-year-old past all other French internationals to become France’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer with 58 goals, in just his 99th appearance for the national side.
The result continues Mbappe’s extraordinary legacy on the World Cup stage: he scored in France’s 2018 World Cup final victory over Croatia, and netted a stunning hat-trick in the 2022 final against Argentina, where France fell on penalties after a dramatic draw. Pre-tournament favorites France will now look to build on their opening win, with their next group stage match against underdogs Iraq, followed by a final group clash with Erling Haaland’s Norway, as they target progression to the knockout round.
For Deschamps, who will step down as head coach after 12 years in charge following this tournament, the narrow win served as a reminder of the threat his side faces, reinforcing his long-stated warnings against overconfidence in a squad packed with elite talent. Senegal, meanwhile, proved they are a force to be reckoned with in Group I, and will look to bounce back in their upcoming matches to keep their own World Cup dreams alive.